I can't speak for the Napa Valley, but I had an '86 Dunn Howell Mountain last year that was outstanding. I have one more that I may hold for MoCool next year.

I would err on the side of buying the Napa Valley.

Hey Sam,

I just bought some Burgess 2008 Howell mountain cabernet sauvignon. How long before you think it will be ready to drink? I could be convinced to bring some to MoCool next year to compare to your Dunn as long as you don't accuse me of being a 'baby killer'.

Almost all wines from the 1980s Californians are now in gentle decline (except for some 87s, which continue to coast), but there are many very drinkable wines and I'd put Dunn into that category - it should be ready drinking now. Sadly, I had a bottle of modern Dunn recently and it was nothing like the huge monsters of the past - early maturing and pleasant. There goes another hero, over the the Other Side!

Let us know how the 86 shows when you get it! (Drank an 85 Clos du Val a few weeks back - lovely still, though not as good as several years ago).

Ian,Coincidently we just had a vertical tasting Of Dunn Howell Mountain here in Stockholm about three weeks ago. 11 vintages from 2008 to 1988. While we did not go back as far as the 1986, knowing your weakness for mature wines, I would not hesitate to advise you to place an order (as you already have!). These are slowly maturing wines, and in my Facebook post about the tasting I wrote: only the '88 and '89 were something like mature.

Anders Källberg wrote:Ian,Coincidently we just had a vertical tasting Of Dunn Howell Mountain here in Stockholm about three weeks ago. 11 vintages from 2008 to 1988. While we did not go back as far as the 1986, knowing your weakness for mature wines, I would not hesitate to advise you to place an order (as you already have!). These are slowly maturing wines, and in my Facebook post about the tasting I wrote: only the '88 and '89 were something like mature.

'88 and '89 were both weaker, early-maturing vintages in Napa, too. '86 was from a string of good years ('84-'87) that, in Randy Dunn's hands, should make very long-lived wines.

At our vertical tasting we were told that Dunn only makes one wine, the Howell Mountain. However, while browsing the upcoming online sale at Christie's I found two different lots of the 1987, one just labeled Dunn Vineyards, Napa Valley while the other one also had Howell Mountain written on the label. Possibly they bottled a basic Napa Valley Cab in the earlier days. Anyone with insight?

Anders, Dunn definitely makes 2 Cabernet Sauvignons, the regular Napa and the Howell Mtn (unless they have changed in last couple vintages). As far as I know that has been true every vintage since they started (1980), but can't swear to that. He has also made a Petite Sirah in at least some vintages.

Dale Williams wrote:Anders, Dunn definitely makes 2 Cabernet Sauvignons, the regular Napa and the Howell Mtn (unless they have changed in last couple vintages). As far as I know that has been true every vintage since they started (1980), but can't swear to that. He has also made a Petite Sirah in at least some vintages.

OK, Dale, thanks. It might simply be my memory that is unreliable... I'll see if I can find the source of the information I seemed to remember. I might in fact meet him at a tasting tonight. I do remember Petite Sirah being mentioned, mostly as a minor ingredient in the main wine, but possibly also in connection with a unique bottling of this variety./Anders

Dale Williams wrote:Anders, Dunn definitely makes 2 Cabernet Sauvignons, the regular Napa and the Howell Mtn (unless they have changed in last couple vintages). As far as I know that has been true every vintage since they started (1980), but can't swear to that. He has also made a Petite Sirah in at least some vintages.

The MacArthur's barrel tasting program from April lists both but I recall they only actually poured the Howell Mtn. My notes for the tasting from the previous two years are clear in that they only poured the Howell Mtn so while I think they are still making both I am not positive.